“My grandmother even sent me messages”, laughs Dimitri Delibes, quoted by Fabien Galthié
Four years ago in Federal 1, the equivalent of the 3rd division at the time, today a great hope for Stade Toulousain, Dimitri Delibes recently saw his name cited by coach Fabien Galthié among the players followed closely. Before the autumn tour, a year from the World Cup, this versatile three-quarter tells RMC Sport about his atypical career, his dreams and the people, Deylaud, Médard, Dupont, who serve as an example.
Dimitri, you only arrived at Stade Toulousain at the age of 19, coming from Blagnac, then in Fédérale 1. At a rather more advanced age than some of your younger recruited teammates…
Yes, I was detected a bit late. I had the chance to meet Christophe Deylaud in Blagnac. He is someone who allowed me to have a real springboard in rugby, who was very attentive to young people, to training. When I was younger, from 17, he got me into the first team at Blagnac. And then, it was he who got me my first selection for the France U20 development team. Because they didn’t watch Federal 1 at all, so it was he who allowed me to evolve at that level. He had kind eyes on me and opened doors for me.
How did Christophe Deylaud, former Stade Toulousain and true legend here, mark you?
For his human side. Sometimes he still calls me on the phone for news. To give me two, three pieces of advice because he watches the games a lot. So it was a real hit.
And rugby?
He has remained very old-fashioned, he has a strict side. But that’s what makes the coach he is. Besides that, he’s a star, a real technician.
How was your arrival at Stade Toulousain?
It was Christophe who made the connection. I was observed in the France U20 team. Ugo Mola came to see me play at Blagnac. Then, since I was still young, they contacted my parents. We had dates during an exchange. And I arrived the following year, really on tiptoe. Because I was coming out of Federal 1, where I had three training sessions a week, and there we were training twice a day! it was complicated, my body wasn’t 100% seasoned. And so the first year, I got injured. I had pubalgia. It was really a big mess. And then mentally, it wasn’t going too well either.
Why ?
Because I left my favorite club, I arrived in a professional club where everything was new, with a lot of requirements. So a really difficult first year. But afterwards, I asked myself the right questions, telling myself that I was doing this for me. And today, I am fulfilled. It’s just fun.
You do not consider yourself programmed for this, which explains your difficulties?
It was a dream to play at Stade Toulousain. I see myself on the sofa with dad, stars in my eyes. But it happened late and indeed, I was perhaps not programmed for that. It’s a chance, I took it. Even if, at the beginning, it was complicated. Me, rugby, it was three times a week, it was friends above all, having fun. Arriving in a professional world like that, training every day, says that my vision of rugby has changed. We had to adapt, I did. But it didn’t happen overnight. Mentally as well as physically. But I asked myself the right questions. And then, fire (smile)!
You played for a few months with Maxime Médard, who, like you, went to the Blagnac club. Did he take you under his wing, even if at Stade Toulousain, at first glance, the oldest don’t give any gift to the youngest?
We will say that first there were test phases. In training it was really rude. He pushed us over the edge. But for me, he was really a leader, an example. And yes, he took me under his wing. In recent years, at the end of training, it was little advice, little words that make progress. When you watch him on the pitch, there are only good things to take from a player like that. So yes, he brought me a lot. And he still writes to me today. On a little developed relationship.
Like a handover?
Handover… I would love to have a career like his, that’s for sure. This is an example still today.
“UFOs are everywhere”
Last year you doubled your playing time (10 Top 14 matches, 2 European Cup matches for 3 tries). You participated in the first three games of the season (twice starter, once substitute). At 23, is it time to assert yourself?
OUI bien sur. It should have even happened earlier. I have to give back to the coaches the trust they place in me. And every week, I question, because today, my services are not at the level of everyone’s expectations. Or my personal expectations. There is still work to do.
You seem to have evolved physically lately. What about?
Inevitably, I’ve been in the professional “machine” for a few years. Yes, I gained weight. It’s quite logical. I arrived here, I was 83 kilos. There, I do 98, 99. Afterwards, the goal is to gain weight but not to lose speed.
Fabien Galthié recently mentioned your name to talk about the players he followed. How did you react?
Of course, it is encouraged. It’s fun. But above all I have to have good performances in the club. Today, as I said, the coaches trust me so I have to give back to them. To perform well with Stade Toulousain before thinking of higher. Even if it’s a dream. A childhood dream. But we must not skip the stages.
We imagine that you have been told a lot about this exit from the coach…
Yes, especially my family. My grandmother even sent me messages (smiles). Of course it’s fun, but you have to put your head in the right place. Especially because during my last three games, there is waste. It’s up to me to fix all that.
It’s not easy to manage all this at your age?
You have to have your head on your shoulders. But on examples at Stade Toulousain. “Toto” Dupont, like others, are world stars today. But they are kind, they are humble. These are examples.
You are still registered at the third national level with Blagnac four years ago, you have just hatched at the highest level with Stade Toulousain and your name is already mentioned by Fabien Galthié. It’s a fashionable term at the moment, especially to talk about your teammate Melvyn Jaminet in the recent past, but you look like a UFO…
A UFO, I don’t think I am today. UFOs, there are one everywhere. It’s especially the guys who have the chance to shine at the moment T. Today, it’s complicated. My performance is not 100 percent. I still keep some under the pedal and we have to increase all these factors.
But do we still dream of participating in the World Cup next year?
Of course, we dream. It’s a kid’s dream. For every professional gamer. It would be extraordinary. It’s in a corner of my head, but we mustn’t skip the steps. It’s up to me to find the thing. We need to talk to the coaches. We are on a real path of progress. So first confirm here, at the club, with the Stade jersey. And then we’ll see. We let ourselves dream…